Shell, BP and ChevronTexaco find hydrocarbons in Gulf of Mexico
Shell, BP and ChevronTexaco have confirmed that hydrocarbons were encountered during the drilling of their Great
White Prospect in the western Gulf of Mexico.
Further appraisal drilling is planned to determine the extent and the commerciality of the discovery at the prospect
which is located in 8,009 ft of water on Alaminos Canyon Block 857.
The Deepwater Nautilus, a fifth generation semi-submersible unit owned by Transocean Sedco Forex and under long-term
contract to Shell Exploration & Production Company (SEPCo) began drilling operations on March 6 and reached its
final depth on May 18, 2002. The discovery well was drilled to a true vertical depth of 19,907 ft.
Six Alaminos Canyon blocks are held in the Great White area by some or all of the working interest owners. These are
-- 813, 814, 857, 858, 900 and 901 -- located about 200 miles from Galveston, Texas in water depths ranging from
7,500 to 9,500 ft.
The blocks were acquired for $ 9.4 mm in OCS Lease Sales 161 and 171 in 1996 and 1998. The working interest owners have an equal share in the block on which the discovery well was drilled.
